Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is making his way into the tech industry.

Willis, who retired last season at age 30, is now working with a Silicon Valley startup called Open Source Storage, a company that provides storage and infrastructure solutions for other companies.

Willis had a great NFL career. The seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time First Team All-Pro linebacker totaled 950 tackles and 20.5 sacks.

But Willis is done with football. He now wants to prove that he can be more than a big guy who tackled NFL quarterbacks for a living.

"For me, this is an opportunity to be able to tell young kids that you can be more than just a physical specimen to be great," Willis said to Mashable's Sam Laird. "I'm a person that can't speak about something until I've done it myself."

During his playing days, Willis volunteered with the Childhood Cancer Society. He also sponsored camps for youth athletes during his off-seasons.

Willis said he has no regrets about stepping away from football. And as he starts his career in the tech field, he only wants to look ahead.

"I don't want to rest on what I've done and let that keep me from doing what I want to do," he told Laird.